Show 7 rUE w ON M Y sr i T L J NEW WONDER f BUl LT IN A GOVERN G i I t f- f 4 o. o iJ I fENT RD e 4 Q 17 N I PE PEER OF J G Gi it 1 I ANY AFLOAT Jt f 1 w Dr 7 tvr 7 40 ex q 1 A l J 17 ArP C- C CONe ClY ONe E tom T. LE i i J. L G E rT lT Z LT 7 J h T 4 r 1 lc F j jJ 1 f t J i j 4 I. I d i. i w l F 1 M i I 4 11 M t I a IPA 1 t DY AL t Z t r THE H HE 1 addition nf tit n o Pol fighting fl g machino maHE ma- ma I chino to facie rne-IE Sams Sam's ever grow Yr ing grow list of or naval t terr terrors is always a n matter of popular approval al but more than the usual interest attaches u to tho the construction of oC the battleship Connecticut Connecticut Con Con- now nearing completion In Inthe Inthe the tho New cw York fork navy y yard Id I'd at Brooklyn nhen n When hen on Jul July 1 1 1902 1903 congress authorized au au- 1 the building building- of oC two new battleships bat bat- to be named the tho Connecticut and the Louisiana It wisely wisch rated In the bill a provision pro that one of oC the ships should be built in n private private vate Yute shipbuilding yard vard and that one ont of them should b be built In one of oC the Government Go navy yards ards Thus was ryas a contest started between n the naval constructors constructors con con- of ot tho the Government on one hand am and the engineers of the private shipbuilding companies on on the othel other That the r results of this competition have ha been een most t satisfactory ati factory not only on account of or the two magnificent sp specimens of that have resulted re rc- but also ulso for fOl other excellent reni ren- sea sea- r aon a- a i I ons on everyone O concerned c even cn n th the private vale ate contractor Is JR bound to admit The Connecticut and um art arc twin h Jn ships ship Tho ho built both at 4 News X h Is completed d and has hns aoi p r fi had her heri trial run Thc Tho I i Ha complete her crew is be- be being ing Ing assembled d nt al' tho naY navy Y yard in Brooklyn and anil she sho will bo ho given civen her trial trip In a very short time during June So the Louisiana has beat boot the Connecticut by n n. month or so so MO but as asa asa a matter of or fact tin the experiment of the Government has haM been a great success The time of construction ot of a class battleship has b been en cut down thirteen months reducing the construction construction construction con con- period In the C case se of ot the tho Louisiana from Crom four forty to thirty months an enormous saving saving- The manner In which the private ship shipbuilding building company has executed Its work Wort has hus been boon greatly Imp Improved oved bythe by bythe the knowledge c that a 0 sister ship was bun building ln at the same sarno time lime in tho the Now York navy na yard But Dut the slower construction of the Connecticut is 19 only apparent As a 0 matter of or fact the actual work worst has 1108 Leon done ono more marc quickly than on the Louisiana The keel heel of or the latter ship was laid on February 7 1903 and tho the keel of or the tho Connecticut just jut one month Inter later With this handicap of one month the Connecticut despite the fact that navy na yard workmen toll but cl eight ht hours a day against the ten hours of oC the laborers in private yards and that the Government work year Is twenty days shorter than the tho private work year year had drawn ahead of her sister Bister ship until on the first rat of or Au Au- August gust J 1 1906 01 she was wa advanced to toward completion per pcr 01 cent while the Louisiana was only per p.- cent com com- But Dut the delay in to the Government Government Government Govern Govern- ment in the forwarding for of or funds needed needed need need- ed cd In Jn the construction of or the ship caused her building to come to 10 a practical practical standstill WI at limes so that the Louisiana has beaten b aten her lier to the finish b by about two months One of oC the very beneficial results of ot the contest has been tho the quickening of ot the work worl on all alJ other Government for COl Uncle Sam vessels now being built bunt Just how much unnecessary delay there has been In the past Is Illustrated by tho the of five battleships of the Georgia class Tho bill blU authorizing authorizing ing tn the construction of these thoo fighters was pa passed td by congress March 3 9 18 1809 9 i It was three years later that the Louisiana Louisi ana una and the Connecticut were author author- Yet at the time that these latter two battleships battleship were respectively and per cent cont finished as ua above told toM two of or these other oilier vessels despite de de- spite their start of or three years yeara over the UtO Connecticut wore scarcely further advanced nd toward completion than the tho latter ship shin the figures being 85 86 cent and tho the Now New the tho Goor Georgia ln per por Jersey 87 per cont cent while the Nebraska fell tell far behind the Connecticut with of her hOI work finished only 77 per cent buildIng buildIng build- build the The stimulating effect of Ing big of oC the Connecticut Is ls also shown hown of oC the battleships Kansas In its the ease cao Minnesota and Vermont of or practically tho the Connecticut and the sumo same class clap as authorized eight months later Intel Work them Is progressing at nt a record record rate on c und ne thO rho they arc alC being u r-u rushed hed to to complo- complo tion As to tho the Connecticut with her cister cis- cis ler ter ship sho she Is the queen of or the American Ameri Ameri- American 1 and ando the largest being both i can navy IHl in the o the most 11 powerful engine of or war wal Officially she Is what is 18 I Il l 1 organization org known us as a n going sea the the- tl battleship being the strongest type lype of cruiser armored tho the vessel In a navy being successively and antI the protected cruiser scale ely al tho the next steps down the As s tho ho Connecticut an and th th Louisiana aro twins In sloe size armament t and all nil description of one of major details a 0 c ii I those Ul ships fits Us both of or them The Tho Connecticut is liO ti o feet rt long the th height orthe oft off of or t When hen you ou consider that In the tho th world 3 th the tallest office building f t In Inh the the 32 storied 32 Park Row flow building h New York York falls falls 70 feet short of or tills this Idea of ot the size of ot the length a n vague f Connecticut may bo ho arrived Ed at She hG U h G feet teet and 10 Inches In beam n n. width r greater than that of or three city house hous lots lota She has a displacement of or 10 t. t ions tho the largest of cut and the Louisiana are ae twiny in size other shii shit l I now HOW in commission slop alon by at least t SOOt k I U d f. f s is 1 fJ r t y yi I I I i r L or rnE 7 T r LlY f PT 9 1 I I 4 77 lZ ro PC F. F fT D 1 k x I Vi n r rn r I r f 0 j. j 1 i J i 1 rl r. r l' l w. w o f. f i 2 r t J. J N a 11 1 it y I r 1 ti s tt I F r 5 Y i. L I 4 4 T r rc p Y Ys c- c t gg J s GONG T-GONG Ed or THE k c v G INTO PL cZ 1 J OF 7 T j fI r j tons tone This displacement is extended when her ber full fu 1 are a e abord and ond her heT bunkers filled with coal for a lengthy cruise crul e to tons Yet despite this enormous weight she will willbe willbe be driven through the water at H R. rate of or 18 Knots or over 20 miles per Ier hour When Whon fully funy loaded the ship hip will draw a little less than 27 feet of water But Dut ono one of her great points of or strength i Is the length of or time during which the Connecticut could slay tay at ot otIen sea sen without wl coaling thus giving her hern herp n p great advantage should hould she in time lime of or war have to make a long trip t.- t. from a friendly coaling cOI station For FoT with their th lr bunkers bunker full rull both oth the Connecticut Con Con- and the Louisiana could travel at a Q little better than half halt speed for toy miles without This i Is a feat fat that no other outer battleship inthe in inthe the world could attempt I Offensively an and defensively tho rho Connecticut Connecticut Con Con- Is unexcelled by an any foreign ship now In commission although when the English h and our own South Carolina have hav been put Into commission she and ond the other ships of oC her class will have to fall tall 1 into tt- tt second place tier Her armament j I comprises among amon other features four Cour Inch 12 guns which are nrc placed two each In two turrets forward and aft Tho The guns In the forward turret have havo a 0 ai firing arc that extends from a 0 point i r dead ahead to a point well alt aft of tho the beam while the 1116 aft turrets can reach within an arc nrc from forward for of or beam am to dead dea t astern Eight Inch eight-Inch guns are alo placed two each In four turrets two on each broa broadside Placed on the gun dock and filing through in tho the t Inch side aIde armor are 1 12 13 sev seven n- n In h caliber CO-caliber guns This powerful battery IB is a n. new feature in these two ships hip and takes the place of tho the usual six inch battery batt ry Each Kadi seven seven- Inch gun has a muzzle energy of ot 2000 feet a second and a n muzzle energy of t 6 foot tons To the th layman these little tittle Idea Imposing figures may carry of or the th power of the be t battery of ot 12 inch guns guu But Hut thou their pow power 1 Is Js better bettel understood when it Is explained that each ach of or the guns suns of or this class can ean fire Ore a projectile weighing 1611 pounds with sufficient energy 19 penetrate at the a mass mans of or Iron two feet and two inches thick k Yet tills this Is I only the third 1 C class 88 gun sun on tho the ship the tho great Inch 12 and the lesser but mighty mighty i inch eight-inch guns far tar luns thosa seven Inch t death dealers Beside this great array there are ar also 12 three-Inch three rapid anti i the same sarno number of three with 14 machine ne guns placed at points of advantage around the superstructure ture as us on the tops of the tho turrets over the and ana on the tho bridges Four torpedo tubes not I intended lobo tobo Included in these ships i have lu been sled since y the Navy avy Department Department De De- has gone s carefully over o tha th tho a counts of or the battles of or the Russo RUMO- Japanese c war These tubes will ac accommodate ac- ac the deadly i Inch 1 torp torpedo tor tor- p o of oC OlO- OlO most OlOt t Improved type tyve The Tho protective armor tt of the Connecticut Con Con- Is hI especially h heavy o. orho The rho main armored nl d 1 zone zono consist of or n. n belt nhu feet wide vIde that extends out from stem stem to ti storn stern both bolh sides or pf the till ship I 1 and below thu water line lino about H vet below tho the line II Ol when th ti tilt whip IH- IH currying H. H cut h t hgr-t ir v lo cI Jut J n tho lI n I r l third th of hot hot- j l 1 Inches thick at Its Us bottom and nisi nini Inches thick nt at its top This hl Is whet when rc t tit It protect protects the th machinery and other vital parts of the vessel From this maximum thickness the lh armor arnor tapers off until at either end ciul it I is of an even ever thickness top and bottom of four foUt Inches that Is at it the bow and stern There is a n. continuous wall of side armor seven Reven inches thick reaching from this main belt to the main deckand deckand deck I and protecting tho the space between i ithe the main barbettes At Al the ends of i this armor extending to toa toa I Ia a connection with the main barbettes i aJ are heads bulk of or seven-Inch seven armor I All of this and in fact all use used 1 in the ship is of the very ery I bf best t type of ot Krupp hardened face stool steel The barbettes b 1 rb Ues or 01 shafts shuns are He the p passages extending from the theba theba bases ba es of or the tho turrets down through h lh the th sh shop P to the protective deck or armor Through these shafts all of the ammunition Is Iii hoisted to the turrets turrets tur tur- of their andin andin and andin for fOI the tho supply gusts guns in them Is placed aced all the machinery no not in thet Ithe the turrets themselves the tho conduits and an other apparatus by which the guns and the turrets ar are arc operated The Tho ammunition ammunition- hoists holste in consist of ot numerous these thIe barbettes in which buckets on endless chains th the am I placed laced at its source of supply and Is 18 lifted 1 up to the base of the gun turret where it i 1 ia dumped lumped off nf as us the ascending bucket passes over to begin its downward passage The rhe protective deck which Is a a. turtleback turtleback tur tur- back tle-back tl shaped roof hardened steel deck protecting protecting- tho the vital parts of the ship which are beneath ben uth It extends completely over oer the ship from the main multi armor belt b outer odge of the on one side to the t le outer edge of or the belt lt on tho the other This deck is one one- Inch thick on the flat fiat or 01 central portion por por- tion two and antI one half inches thick forward and an 1 aft and Is three Inches thick on the tho sloping eloping roof sides at the edges erlte A 4 shell which was heavy enough h tl to penetrate th the main main bolt belt would still have hove to pierce the tho protective deck before It reach the machinery spaces And this lar is not apt to happen The turrets that the four Cou four 12 Inch guns gun one fore and cne one aft art have ha sloping sides of ot armor armOl 1 12 inches thick while the cylindrical portions of the lur- lur the of which Is IK clearly I earl shown In ono one of the accompanying photographs carry caro ste steel 1 plates eight Inches In thick thick- fleas nCI The barbettes leading from rom these thelo two main turrets are arc protected by 10 inches of armor the turret roof root by two inches The four turrets two on each ench broadside Inclosing the inch eight guns are protected by eight Inches of armor while the barbettes leading from them arc aro protected b by six Inches So U It t will he seen that all aU her het machinery machinery ma mR- chinery and ami all nil of her powerful guns are protected b by the heaviest I l kind of armor uT C tT tl the disabling of tho the Connecticut by hy or the silencing of her guns Is radically Impossible lc One of the Important features of or the battleship Is 18 the method of control of or bun bulkhead head doors doom what is known as the thelong thelong long arm ann system having inK been In In- In stalled I Each ach of the bulkhead doors of ot th the tho main passages ot of the ship as well as the armored d hatches of the protective deck is operated by b its individual a electric motor all of ot these motors controlled con con- trolled from tram a central emergency oncy station I As the bulkhead deot's of or the U main patsa passages pas pas- sages Bacca sa are arc hu huge e plates o or of steel steal two In Inches Inches Inches In- In ches In thickness it will he un understood that the cloying closing of one ono of these by hand handIs Is no easy matter In the of collision col cot Il lon or in other othel emergencies tho the clou- clou Ins ing Of th these s doors moans means url life or death eath compartments tl ti tho the persons within the rho Tho Iu Navy Dei Department nt hats hus l 0 both Hydraulic nullo ami lu i n Uc tip pressure systems l taut ut without lory rc- rc cults sulta N Now W the long at arm ann m. m electric Sg system tem m with the Vho l i ual motor for th 1 y thu h l bbl cu cl froll d J JU U Chu fJ J 1 tn furl r r C nl tr I 7 lie bl ilO iro o n nc ut ii t 1 iii J s s Am cit 7 It makes Uncle Sam of oC navy war practically unsinkable and os injury accident of or flooding by 1 nt In which It compartment In K i It to th the ti s. I IM Of or course cacti of or the tho t h doors by electricity or or hatches can an be he operated Independently jIn Inde or on the tho spot as well as fitting Into the till sy system tm m that will permit of or their |